July 21 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Thai party Avanzar has decided to entrust its coalition partner, Pheu Thai, with the task of forming a government after the Parliament of the Asian country suspended the opposition leader and winner of the country’s elections, Pita Limjaroenrat, for alleged possession of media assets in violation of electoral law.
The decision was announced this Friday by the general secretary of Avanzar, Chaithawat Tulathon, in a new episode of the difficult transition process that awaits the country after the victory of Avanzar and Pheu Thai in the May 14 elections, which ended, on paper, to the presence of the military in the government, either directly or indirectly, as has happened in recent years with the figure of the great loser in the elections, former general Prauyth Chan Ocha.
“Our mission now consists of creating a democratic government under the memorandum of understanding signed by the eight parties that make up the coalition,” Chaithawat explained at a press conference reported by the ‘Bangkok Post’.
Now it is the turn of Pheu Thai, which has not yet designated its candidate for prime minister. However, all eyes are on its leader, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of the historic former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been in exile for two decades and now lives in Dubai and has traditionally faced the Thai political-military ‘establishment’.
If Paeongtarn ultimately decides not to run, Pheu Thai has two other options: magnate Srettha Thavisin and former attorney general Chaikasem Nitisiri.
The general secretary of Avanzar has rounded off his speech criticizing the many obstacles facing this fledgling government by assuring that the conservatives “have used various mechanisms, including politicians, monopoly groups and organizations, to prevent Avanzar from forming a government”, such as his constant resort to the crime of lèse majesté, an offense against the Crown that, according to NGOs, has become in recent years a mere excuse to silence dissidents.
“We stand firm: if the ‘uncles’ (a term referring to Prauyth and his allies) are still here, we’re leaving.”
“It is a position that we have always made clear and we cannot break the promise we made to the people,” added the Secretary General, who does not rule out any option to prevent his coming to power. “We cannot even neglect a possible dissolution of the party, because it is clear that Thailand’s legal system is not normal,” he added.
The Thai Parliament will meet again on July 27 to elect its prime minister.
